Multiple tape dispenser

ABSTRACT

A multiple tape dispenser comprising, a cylindrical housing having a plurality of reels of tape rotatably mounted in the housing and spaced apart in fixed relationship to each other, said housing having an edge over which the housed tape may be dispensed, and a cutting means affixed to the housing and located near the edge of the body member for cutting a length of desired tape at the point the tape is dispensed.

O Umted States Patent 1 1 1111 3,870,211 Schriever Mar. 11, 1975MULTIPLE TAPE DISPENSER 3,546,850 12/1970 Hatanaka et al 242/5542 x [76]inventor: Fred G. Schriever, 19950 Harper Wood Harper W d Mi h PrimaryExaminer-Frank T. Yost 4 225 Assistant Examiner-Fred Silverberg [22] F]d M 14 1974 Attorney, Agent, 0rF1'rmBurton & Parker 1e ar.

[ 21] Appl. No.: 450,999 [57] ABSTRACT A multiple tape dispensercomprising, a cylindrical [52] U.S. Cl 225/34, 83/595,;3/620, housinghaving a plurality of reels of tape rotatably I I mounted in the housingand spaced apart in fixed relalfnas-----:--lel a 5 I I s I I a I..'-51-.4.36 1 1 j over which the housed tape may be dispensed, and a 3cutting means affixed to the housing and located near the edge of thebody member for cutting a length of References Cited desired tape at thepoint the tape is dispensed.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 3,199,394 8/1965Castelli 83/650 X 29 i j 26 Z g i 20 1|1||1.=:1 1 .{lJ Ll l QE kMULTIPLE TAPE DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention is concerned with tape dis pensing equipment, particularlyhand operable multitape dispensers.

In the dispensing of identification tape it has been found desirable tohave multiple tapes having various indicia which can be applied to adesirable object. The tape dispenser that is to be used is one thatshould be relatively lightweight, preferably relatively easy tomanufacture.

It is an object of the present invention to describe a multiple tapedispenser which can be relatively economically reproduced.

It is an object of the present invention to also have a multiple tapedispenser having tapes of varying types and sizes capable of marking anumber of varying objects.

It is also an object of the present invention to have a relativelysimplified multiple tape dispenser and cutting element having easilyreplaceable tape rolls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present application is concerned with amultiple tape dispenser comprising a cylindrical body member having aplurality of reels of rotatably mounted tape such as adhesive tape,pressure sensitive tape, and the like; the cylindrical body member hasan edge over which the housed tape may be dispensed, and a cutting meansaffixed to the body member located near the edge for cutting a length ofdesired tape. Preferably, the cutting edge is inserted in a rotatablymounted lid for the tape dispenser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS- FIG. 1 is a top view of a multipletape dispenser of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section of a multiple tape dispenser of the presentinvention taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross section of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 3 takenalong the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention is concernedwith a multiple tape dispenser employing a plurality of reels of tape asshown in FIG. 1. The tape dispenser 1 has a housing wherein theplurality of tapes 2 may be rotatably mounted. The tape rolls arepreferably inserted into semicircular holding means 21 of the housing 20wheren studs 22 of the rolls may be snapped into position therebyholding the rolls in the semicircles and allowing rotation of the rollsand dispensing the tape 23 as desired.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention wherein arotatably mounted lid 3 is inserted into lid receiving means 25 which islocated in the center of the housing by snap-in engagement means 26associated with the lid. The snap-in engagement may take the form of aconical lock which engages a cooperatively designed receiving element inthe center of the housing or body. The lid receiving means is shown inFIG. 2 as a center post portion of the base 37, which will be furtherdescribed below. The lid has a cutting edge 27 embedded into the lowerportion of the lid. The cutting blade projects into a blade receivingspace 28 located at the periphery of the housing of the body member,best shown in FIG. 2.

The tape rolls 2 rotate in fixed semicircular holding means 21 and thetape is drawn to the edge 5 of the housing member. The housing 20 isdesigned to hold a number of rolls of tape in fixed relationship to eachother.

The axis of each tape reel is chordal to the cylindrical housing. Inother words, the rolls are positioned around the cylindrical housing incircular fashion generally in an equal radial distance from the centerof the housing.

When one wishes to dispense tape from the multiple tape dispenser of thepresent invention, one slides the lid 3 around to the appropriate spotin order to expose the desired rolls. The tape 23 from the roll 2 isextended so that the cutting blade 27 slices the tape for use. As can beseen in FIG. 2, the use of the blade receiving means recessed in thehousing permits the design and use on a safe yet effective tapedispenser.

An alternate embodiment to the present invention is expressed in FIGS. 3and 4. A housing 30 has a cutting edge, preferably a serrated edge 31,and has mounted therein a plurality of rolls 32 with tape thereon 33.The rolls are mounted in or snapped in semicircular holding means 34 ofthe housing. This is readily accomplished by having studs 35 on therolls 32, best shown in FIG. 3. The studs are projections of the rollswhich really provide an axis about which the rolls rotate. The cuttingedge may be a serrated plastic edge of the housing or it may be ametallic edge cast or inserted into the housing. a

When one wishes to dispense a tape from the multiple tape dispenser ofthe present invention, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a lid, if desired,(not shown) may be rotated to expose the desired tape. The tape wouldthen be 'extracted or pulled from the roll over the cutting edge 31 andremoved from the multiple tape dispenser.

As can be seen from the above, the multiple tape dispenser can beeconomically reproduced from moldable plastics or from appropriatelydesigned metallic parts, and may have a loop 29 attached thereto for theconvenience of handling. In order to facilitate the cutting of the tapeby either embodiment, tape holding means 36 may be utilized. The tapemeans would preferably be a portion of the housing so that the tape maybe pulled from the cutting edge. Then when the tape is cut, the uncuttape will remain on this inclined element from which it may be extractedfor subsequent tape dispensmg.

Although it is not required, base means 37 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 may beinserted at the bottom of the multiple tape dispensing apparatus. Thebase may be,

snapped into position by appropriately designed molded plastic parts ormay be screwed into a threaded portion of the housing member (notshown).

The embodiment in FIG. 2 shows that the base may have in the centerthereof a lid receiving means in which the lid may be snapped intoplace.

As can be seen, I have devised an improved multiple tape dispenser whichcan be refilled with a number of varying rolls merely by removing thebottom plate (if used), passing the rolls into the housing and snappingthe roll studs into the downwardly facing semicircular roll holdingmeans.

By using this improved multiple tape dispenser, l am able with the onedispenser to identify wires or other objects with various numbers,colors, or designs.

What I claim is:

l. A multiple tape dispenser comprising;

a cylindrical housing having a plurality of reels of tape rotatablymounted in the housing and spaced apart in fixed relationship to eachother, the axis of the reels being chordal to the cylindrical housing,said housing having an edge over which the housed tape may be dispensed;and

a cutting means affixed to the housing and located near the edge of thehousing for cutting a length of desired tape at the point the tape isdispensed.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a rotatable lid memberwhich rotates to expose the desired roll.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the cutting means is comprised of acutoff blade located in the rotatable lid member, said cutting bladeprojecting into a blade receiving space located in the housing, said lidbeing adapted to rotate to cut the desired tape at the point the tape isdispensed.

4. The dispenser of claim 2 further comprising a base means which isaffixed to the bottom of the housing and which may be removed therefromas desired; said base means having a lid receiving means located in thecenter thereof, in which the lid is placed.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the cutting means is a serrated edgelocated at the periphery of the housing at the point the tape isdispensed.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the housing is further comprised ofa plurality of semicircular roll holding means for holding the studs ofthe rolls, said studs being the axis about which the rolls rotate.

7. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein the semicircular roll holding meansopens downwardly towards the bottom of the housing.

1. A multiple tape dispenser comprising; a cylindrical housing having aplurality of reels of tape rotatably mounted in the housing and spacedapart in fixed relationship to each other, the axis of the reels beingchordal to the cylindrical housing, said housing having an edge overwhich the housed tape may be dispensed; and a cutting means affixed tothe housing and located near the edge of the housing for cutting alength of desired tape at the point the tape is dispensed.
 1. A multipletape dispenser comprising; a cylindrical housing having a plurality ofreels of tape rotatably mounted in the housing and spaced apart in fixedrelationship to each other, the axis of the reels being chordal to thecylindrical housing, said housing having an edge over which the housedtape may be dispensed; and a cutting means affixed to the housing andlocated near the edge of the housing for cutting a length of desiredtape at the point the tape is dispensed.
 2. The dispenser of claim 1further comprising a rotatable lid member which rotates to expose Thedesired roll.
 3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the cutting means iscomprised of a cutoff blade located in the rotatable lid member, saidcutting blade projecting into a blade receiving space located in thehousing, said lid being adapted to rotate to cut the desired tape at thepoint the tape is dispensed.
 4. The dispenser of claim 2 furthercomprising a base means which is affixed to the bottom of the housingand which may be removed therefrom as desired; said base means having alid receiving means located in the center thereof, in which the lid isplaced.
 5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the cutting means is aserrated edge located at the periphery of the housing at the point thetape is dispensed.
 6. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the housing isfurther comprised of a plurality of semicircular roll holding means forholding the studs of the rolls, said studs being the axis about whichthe rolls rotate.